Contemporary Adolescence: A Social Psychological Approach PDF
Preview Contemporary Adolescence: A Social Psychological Approach
CONTEMPORARY ADOLESCENCE AS ocial Psychological Approach For Andrew, Cara, Matthew, and Philip - at different stages of childhood and adolescence CONTEMPORARY ADOLESCENCE AS ocial Psychological Approach PATRICK C. L. HEAVEN Charles Sturt University, Australia M ISBN 978-0-333-61874-5 ISBN 978-1-349-13538-7 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-349-13538-7 Copyright © Patrick C.L. Heaven 1994 All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described in the Copyright Act 1968 of Australia and subsequent amendments, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. First published 1994 by MACMilLAN EDUCATION AUSTRALIA PTY LTD 107 Moray Street, South Melbourne 3205 Associated companies and representatives throughout the world. National Library of Australia cataloguing in publication data Heaven, Patrick C. L. (Patrick Charles Lionel). Contemporary adolescence: a social psychological approach. Bibliography. Includes index. ISBN 978-0-7329-2620-5 ISBN 978-0-7329-2619-9 (pbk.) 1. Adolescent psychology. 2. Youth-Psychology. I. Title. 155.5 Typeset in Plantin by Superskill Graphics, Singapore Cover design by Maria Fontana Contents Preface viii Acknowledgements xii 1 General Introduction 1 Introduction 1 Images of Youth 1 Developmental Tasks 4 Theoretical Perspectives on Adolescence 6 The Nature-Nurture debate 24 Summary 25 2 Identity and the Self 27 Introduction 27 Identity Formation 28 Identity Statuses: Research Evidence 33 Identity Formation: An Evaluation 36 The Developing Self-system 37 Sex-role Identity 44 Theoretical Considerations 48 Summary 48 3 Family Influences 50 Introduction 50 Theoretical Perspectives 50 Parent-adolescent Influences 53 Adolescents' Attitudes to the Family 59 Reactions to Parental Separation and Divorce 62 Adolescents in New Families 67 Theoretical Considerations 70 Summary 71 4 Friendships and Peer Groups 73 Introduction 73 v VI Contents The Nature of Friendships 74 Peer Groups 78 Perceptions of the Peer Group 84 Parents vs. Peers 89 Bullying at School 91 Theoretical Considerations 94 Summary 94 5 Educational Processes 96 Introduction 96 The Transition to High School 97 Attitudes to School 98 Psychosocial Correlates of Academic Performance 100 High School Dropouts 109 Gender, Type of School and Academic Outcome 112 The Transition to University 117 Theoretical Considerations 118 Summary 119 6 Sexuality 121 Introduction 121 Sexual Initiation 122 Learning about Sex 123 Attitudes to Sex 130 Condom Use and the Threat of AIDS 131 Adolescent Sex Offenders 138 Adolescents in Prostitution 139 Sexual Orientation 140 Theoretical Considerations 142 Summary 143 7 Adolescents as Parents 145 Introduction 145 The Risk of Early Pregnancy 14 7 Pregnancy Resolution 149 Birthing Outcomes 156 Parental Practices 160 Psychological Adjustment of Children 161 Adolescent Mothers in Adulthood 163 Teenage Fathers 164 Theoretical Considerations 166 Summary 167 Contents vn 8 Work and Money 169 Introduction 169 Learning about Work and Money 170 Attitudes to Work and Money Matters 175 Personality and Work 177 Adolescents at Work 178 The Effects of Unemployment 185 Theoretical Considerations 190 Summary 190 9 Orientation to Authority and Delinquency 193 Introduction 193 Orientation to Authority 194 Orientation to Authority: Individual Differences 197 Orientation to Authority and Delinquency 200 Delinquency 20 1 Perspectives on Delinquency 204 Theoretical Considerations 213 Summary 213 10 Hopelessness, Depression and Suicide 215 Introduction 215 Hopelessness 215 Depression 218 Suicide 228 Theoretical Considerations 236 Summary 237 Bibliography 239 Index 262 Preface Although I initially trained as a social psychologist, I have, over the years, developed a strong interest in human development, particu larly adolescent development. This is not a common interest for a social psychologist. Perhaps it resulted from my own experiences as an adolescent. On the other hand, it may have something to do with one of my earliest lecturing assignments: standing in for a colleague in human development. Perhaps having four quite differ ent children is a factor. Whatever the reason, my interest in the psychology of adolescence has developed to the point where I consider this one of the more challenging fields of possible study. Adolescence usually encompasses the second decade of life. Unlike other stages or periods of the life span, it has been referred to as a time of transition, as a time of storm and stress, and as a time of being marginalised. Teenagers are no longer children, yet are not quite adult. Physically, they are maturing rapidly. Emotionally and cognitively, however, their transition to adulthood appears some what slower. It is as though adolescents do not clearly fit into any life stage. That is what makes the adolescent years so different and why, for so many adolescents, this period of life is exciting and challenging, yet often filled with turmoil and confusion. Hamburg (1990) has reminded us that being an adolescent in the late twentieth century is more difficult than ever before. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, adolescence is now much longer. The average age of menarche, for example, is lower than before. Moreover, many adolescents undergo post-school training, thus remaining financially dependent on their parents beyond their teenage years. Compare this to the late 1800s, when adolescents were a cheap source of labour in the rapidly expanding industries of Western Europe and the United States (Grinder 1990). There are also other reasons. Hamburg (1990) notes the erosion of family and social support networks, as well as the easy access that adolescents now have to drugs, alcohol and other life threatening substances such as weapons and vehicles. Thus, not only is adolescence a time of transition, but adolescents are also highly vulnerable to emotional maladjustment and a range of behav iours such as early sexual activity and associated health risks, depression, suicide, drug use, delinquency and dropping out of school (Hamburg 1990). Vlll Preface 1x Rationale of This Book This book will expand Hamburg's (1990) ideas of vulnerability and examine the psychological principles associated with the social de velopment of adolescents. This is not to suggest that the physical/ biological and cognitive aspects of adolescent development are not of prime importance: they are. This book, however, will concen trate on the social aspects of development, noting implications for adjustment. A review of trends in adolescent research between 1976 and 1981 (Stefanko 1984) listed some of the most 'popular' research topics in adolescence. Included were problem behaviours like sui cide; emotional problems (like depression); sexuality; parents and divorce; peers; issues connected with education; and work-related issues. This book will consider these and other issues. It differs, I believe, from other similar volumes in a quite funda mental way. Unlike them, it attempts an in-depth review of psycho logical research findings, rather than the more descriptive review of results typical of books in this area. I have also attempted to incorporate findings from as many different cultures as possible. The book is therefore, directed at those students and professionals who are keen to read a little more deeply than usual. Overview Chapter 1 introduces the reader to the field of study. It reviews some of the earliest and current images of youth. How have adoles cents typically been portrayed? How does this differ from current stereotypes? It is noted that the teenage years, although regarded as 'intense' and rather 'exuberant', are not necessarily a time of storm and stress. A very important part of this chapter is the review of theoretical perspectives. The chapter does not consider all possible theories; only those regarded as the most influential have been included and evaluated. The importance of each to understanding adolescent development is considered. Theoretical points are re ferred to again at the end of each chapter. In the second chapter, we consider identity formation and the search for self. Since adolescents are in the period of transition to adulthood, an important developmental task is the search for iden tity, personal, vocational and sexual. The chapter will consider various identity statuses and their implications for adolescent ad justment. The chapter concludes by considering the self-concept and the development of a sex-role identity.
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